2.2.2. Occlusal Status Examination

To examine the occlusal balance, the T-scan III^® system (Tekscan, Inc., South Boston, MA, USA), a digital occlusal tester, was used in conjunction with Microsoft Windows. Data of higher quality were able to be obtained through this method as it quantitatively depicted the occlusal balance by measuring the objective occlusion force, which is unmeasurable with articulating paper. As a measuring method, the participants were first seated on a chair with head slightly upward above the horizontal plane and bit into centric occlusion. The occlusion sensor pointer of the T-scan III^® system was placed between the central incisors of the maxillary to maintain the correct position before measuring the occlusal balance. The recordings of the occlusion were taken by distinguishing the color of occlusion appearing on the graph on the Microsoft Windows screen. The sensitivity was adjusted so the red spots could appear one to three times, and then maintained for approximately two seconds at the central occlusion, and the result of this process repeated three times was recorded. Left and right percentages (%) were recorded to identify unilateral and bilateral occlusion. The images were analyzed in quadrants of the anterior left, anterior right, posterior left, and posterior right to identify the anterior and posterior occlusal balance [29].